This is the last Challenger of the year. The indoor clay facilities of Maia are hosting an event that can open Australian doors… Returning to Portugal, Geoffrey Blancaneaux, 135th worldwide, had to relive the ecstasy of his first title won on December 12, 2021. Then 234th in the world, the Val-de-Marnais had subdued the Taiwanese Tseng finally. Seeded No. 4 thanks to packages, he nevertheless quickly became disenchanted. This Tuesday, Blancaneaux fell in the first round against the Bosnian Nerman Fatic (6-1, 6-4). Note the qualification of Raphael Collignon. The Belgian, who is aiming to qualify for the Australian Open, will therefore not be available for Interclubs with Sannois.
Nuno Borges under pressure
Luca Van Assche, 176th after his final in Valencia, is still in the table. He was “preserved” by the referee and will not start until Wednesday against the Swede Elias Ymer, seeded #3. The favorite in this event is Nuno Borges. The Portuguese flew over (6-3, 6-0) his first match against Denis Istomin, from the qualifications. Thursday, he will rub shoulders with the winner of the match between the Ukrainian Oleksii Krutykh – titled in Valencia – in Portuguese Pedro Sousa. Despite his 93rd rank in the world, he must be a hit at home to make the cut for the Australian Open because the 50 points of his title in 2021 in Antalya will be taken away from him on Monday…
